Skate Australia is pleased to be a beneficiary of the Australian Government’s second stream of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Preparation Fund that was announced today.
The $5 million funding boost distributed across over 25 sports, is part of the $20 million commitment from the Australian Government announced in July, designed to significantly enhance the medal potential and improve the performance of Australian athletes in the lead-up to the Paris 2024 Games.
Stream Two of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Preparation Fund was a competitive grant program with eligible high performance sports applying for additional funding to enhance their existing and/or new priority campaigns for Paris 2024.
The additional funding will directly support Skate Australia’s skateboarders working towards Paris Qualification.
Skate Australia’s High Performance Manager Debbie Savage said the funding announcement is a welcome aid to the sport’s athletes.
“The additional funding will allow our athletes the opportunity to adequately prepare before our OQE events in 2024 leading into Paris,” she said.
“This includes addressing a gap in our support staff to prioritise the health and wellbeing of our athletes.
“In addition, we have dedicated funding for our top categorised athletes to attend competitions in advance to acclimatise to the environments, train and prepare.”
Minister for Sport, Anika Wells, announced the successful recipients while visiting the athlete’s village in Paris less than a year out from the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“This is an important step on our path towards building the best sporting system in the world by Brisbane 2032,” Minister Wells said.
“This critical second stream of the Paris 2024 Preparation Fund sees dozens of projects brought to life including game changing initiatives such as custom chairs for our wheelchair rugby team.
“For many sports, the Paris 2024 Preparation Fund unlocks the one-percenters and for others, it opens the door to new Olympic and Paralympic aspirations.
“Underpinned by the Win Well pledge, it is about elevating the chances of Australians getting to the Paris starting line, achieving a personal best, or reaching the podium and, ultimately, delivering results that make Australia proud.”
Australian Sports Commission (ASC) CEO Kieren Perkins OAM expects the funding to have a significant impact.
“We are delighted to be able to support our sports and athletes with this targeted funding which is set to make a tangible difference to so many people,” Mr Perkins said.
“Our athletes have made extraordinary sacrifices to get to where they are, and hopefully this additional funding support will help take them to the next level.
“I’d like to once again thank the Australian Government and Minister Wells for allowing the Australian Sports Commission to work closely with our sports to ensure these extra funds gets to the Olympians and Paralympians who need it most as we enter the final stage of preparations before Paris.”
